Paper folding machine



May 6, 1941. e. A. SHAFFER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1941- G. A. SHAFFER 2,241,329

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1959 1o Sheets-Sheet s illlllllliiezll ll iiiillll Mum May 6, 1941. e. A. SHAFFER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7 1939 #7 Nov 172067270? 6/92]? (X J/xafi?! /3 W 7% May 6, 1941. s. A. SHAFFER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE 10 Sheets-sheaf 6 Filed Feb. 7, 1939 y 1941- G. A. SHAFFE'R- 2,241,329-

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7. 19:59 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 f BMW/W1 G. A. SHAFFER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 8 May 6, 1941.

Filed Feb. 7, 1939 |.||||l I III! IIIII May 6, 1941. G. A. SHAFFER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 7. C 9% 15 a M 6.

Patented May 6, 1941 2,241,329 PAPER FGLDIN G MACHINE Glenn A. Shafier, De Pere, Wis., assignor to Fort Howard Paper Company, Green Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 7, 1939, Serial No. 255,144

23 Claims. (71; 270-436) The invention relates to paper folding and interfolding machines and has as an object the provision of means for simultaneously operating upon a plurality of strips of paper- It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine that will fold strips of paper, cut to napkin width into bands, cutting the folded bands into napkin lengths and interfolding the individual folded napkins into package form.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine that will fold any one of a plurality of widths of strips to form napkins of different sizes, each size being folded into a band of the same width irrespective of the width of the napkin, and interfold individual napkins cut from such bands so that the final napkin fold will be of th same dimensions irrespective of the size of the napkin.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine readily adjustable for the said different sizes of napkins.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described having means to emboss napkins to be folded, which embossing means may be readily thrown out of use for the purpose of folding the napkins without embossing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for reducing the tension upon the strips as they are drawn through the folding apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to improve upon the mechanisms for folding and interfolding napkins.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described which will avoid defacement of the embossing of the napkins in the subsequent folding thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for adjusting the cutting lengths of the napkins to fall accurately between the successive embossed portions thereof.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section through one of the feeding and interfolding mechanisms taken on a plane corresponding to line 3-3 of Figure 8.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation partly in sectil tion on a line corresponding to the plane of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section through a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail vertical sections showing the interfolding mechanism in different positions of operation;

Fig. 8 is a detailed end elevation corresponding to the portion included in line 8-8 of Figure 1 partly in ection to disclose the construction;

Fig. 9 is an end view from the left of Figure 1 but showing an embossing attachment on the rear backstand;

Fig. 10 is a detailed plan view of the portion embraced by line ll0 of Figure 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the portion embraced by line II-H of Figure 1;

Fig. 12 is a detail end view of the receiving chutes with parts omitted to show the package marking device;

Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation partly in section showing the means for feeding the paper out to napkin length to the interfolding mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a section on line -44 of Fig. 13 with part shown in elevation;

Fig. 15 is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale showing the action of the tucker blades; r

Fig. 16 is a section on line Iii-l6 of Figure 15;

Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are end views showing forms of fold that may be provided by the apparatus of napkins to be interfolcled;

Figs. 21, 22, 23, and 24 are plan views of the coaction of the folding triangles with different widths of paper strips;

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic showing of the relation between the triangle and the paper formers showing the action of the latter with various widths of strips received from the triangle;

Fig. 26 is a detail elevation partly in section of an adjustable sheave for driving the booster rolls;

Figs. 27 and 28 are detail vertical sections showing paper guiding blades for coacting with different forms of fold;

Fig. 29 is a detail plan view partly in section of means for actuating a switch to control the package marking mechanism; and

Fig. 30 is an end view of the structure of Figure 29.

As shown, the mechanism is supported on a frontstand 35, an intermediate backstand 36, and a rear backsta-nd 31. The strips of paper to be folded are supplied inparent rolls 38, the machine being shown as arranged to support three rolls 38 upon each backstand.

To feed the paper to the initial folding triangles in proper relation thereto, the parent rolls are provided with adjusting means, best shown in Figure 10, wherein the roll is supported upon a screwthreaded arbor 39 and its screwthreads may be moved in the backstand to adjusted position by operation of the hand wheels 40, and the parent roll is placed upon the arbor against a disk 4! to properly locate the same and is retained in such position by means of expander pins 42 carried by the arbor. To steady the rolls and provide a slight resistance.to thelrun-- off of the paper, brakes d3 of known type are shown.

The paper leaving the parent rolls, as shown in Figure 9 illustrating the rolls upon the inter mediate backstand 38, passes under idle rolls 44,

and around booster r01ls45, 48, 4'! to the triangles 58, which triangles operate in a knownmanner.

The main drive of the device-is shown as from.

mounted sprocket 84 which through chain 65 drives booster roll 46 upon the shaft of which is a sprocket driving chain 66 which drives boosterroll 41.

By means of -adjustable sheaves GI, 63,- the speed of the booster rolls may be adjusted to run so as to feed the strips to the triangles and relieve the strips as fed to the triangles-from'anytension resulting from the brakes. After passing the triangles the paper is fed to formers-6'! the coaction of which with the triangles, to be described, is illustrated in Figures 17 to inclusive.

The mechanisms for supporting and adjusting the rolls upon the backstands 36 and STare-the same. abreast, the strips would have to be spaced a minimum distance depending upon the extent of the triangles. By placing one set of;rol ls-upon the backstand 38 with the triangles therefor in staggered relation to the triangles upon the intermediate backstand 36, the six strips=illustrated are accommodated by a machine of considerably less width than six times thewidthof any one of the triangles, as is plainly apparent fromthe plan view of Figure 10.

l The paper passing the triangles is led; about booster rolls 88, 89 to they formers 31 ,and'after passing. the formers about booster rollsv I8; H, each booster roll providing that the strip there beyond shallbe without tension.

Todrive the booster rolls the. shaft'is provided with a pulley driving a belt 72. The booster rolls 68- are mounted loosely upon shafts 13, l4, l5, l8; respectively. Theshaftlfi is driven by belt ?2 and inturn through chain Tl drives shaft 15 which by meansof belt '8 drives shaft '54 and the latter through chain '19 drives shaft 13.. Thesaidbooster roll shafts are therefore each driven at a, uniform. and the same speed.

To operate upon sixstrips of paper rolls 26 and comprise a hub 88 carrying one side of the sheave 8 I, the remaining side 82 of the sheave being screwthreaded upon a sleeve 83 which in turn is screwthreaded upon a sleeve 84 integral with the hub 88 which is keyed to shaft 15 in the case of sheaves 81, 88, 89, 90 and is rigidly secured to the roll in the case of sheaves BI, 92, 93, 9d. The two sides 8! and 82 of the sheave are compelled to revolve together by means of pins 85 fixed in one thereof and projecting through openings in the other thereof. The

'screwthreads upon the sleeves 83, and 84 differ in pitch inisuch manner that when sleeve 83 is turned .it will feed toward the sheave member 8| ata-faster rate than will the sheave member 82. The net resultof revolution of sleeve 83 will be that the sheave member 82 will be moved toward or from the sheave member 8| by an amount equal to the difference in the pitches of the screws thereby causing the V-belt to move either outwardlyor inwardlywithin the sheave to give ardiiferent speed of drive ofnthe rollssheaves are locked-in. adjustment. by-means of set screws 88.

The sheaves 81; 88,; 89; and.90;.are.fixed.upon the shafts respectively whilethe sheaves. 9|, 92;. 93,;84rare loose on the-shafts. andhave their heave m m ers espond e t sheave 8I..Fieure 26, fixed to the respective booster rolls. By

' this means the speed of each of the booster rolls maybe adjusted independently of the others driven-from the constant speed shafts, roll 69 being driven from sheave 81 by belt 81 and roll H being driven from-'sheave-88 by means of belt In like manner roll 68:15 driven bysheave 89 by means ofbeltBil and roll 18 is driven from sheave 80 by means of belt 98'.

The foldedv bands fromthe backstand 31, are carried by bridges 95 over the mechanism upon T the backstand 38;

Ifit be .desired toembossthe strips of paper the device shown in Figures 1 and 9 maybe applied, cne. embossing mechanism only being shownas appliedtobackstand 38, it being understood that. alike .embossingmechanism may be applied. to vbackstand .31.

As shownthe embossing mechanism is supported upon cantilever supports 98, 91 and comprise a frame 98 in which are journalled the shafts for embossing rolls- 99-, I88. Roll. I88 is driven by chain lill from shaft Eiland in turndrives the shaft of roll 99 by means of gears- I82, Figure 1.

For .embossingdiiferent widths of .paperdif the embossing rolls totheidle rolls l83. at .the-

basesof the trian les, The boosterrolls 48,4! may be .taken out of the way for this purpose if'desired. The path of the, strip from one. of.

the parent rolls in. Figure-,9 to. the embossing rol1 is shown in dash lines, When the embossing rolls. are not in use, ,chain I 8| will be removed andwhen theyare in use belts 6.2 will be removed.

The strips passing from the formers fil'pass under individual rolls I84 one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 3, which rolls are carried upon bell cranks I65 pivoted at I33, the remaining arm of the bell crank having screw-threaded connection with shafts I01 reaching to hand wheels I50 within the reach of the operator. This adjustment of the rolls I64 is for the purpose of determining the correct arrival to the measuring and cutting device when the strips are embossed in order that the finished napkin may have the embossing properly formed thereon. The strips are then led across a common spreader roll I38 and over a spreader bar H for the purpose of flattening the folded bands. The strips are then led past spreader shoes, two forms of which are shown in Figures 2'? and 28, the plate Ii! in Figure 27 which is utilized with the forms of fold shown in Figures 17, 18, and 19 comprising two portions H2, H3 joined at I I4 to coact with the strip as shown in Figure 27.

The single plate II5, Figure 28, supported upon a central standard I I6, is used with the edgeto-center fold of Figure 20.

The relation of the folds of Figures 1'1, 18, 19, and 20 respectively to the triangles is shown in Figures 21, 22, 23, and 24 respectively. In Figure 25 the former 61 is shown in its fixed relation to the path of the band indicated in this figure as the bridge 95, the relation of the former and the bridge being fixed and the triangle being adjustable with respect thereto.

Since it is usually preferred to operate upon three or six strips of the same width at a given time, the triangles are shown in Figure 9 as supported upon a common base II1, being mounted thereon by means of standards II8 through swivel mounting H9 swivelllng in one plane and a second swivel mounting I20 movable in the second plane, whereby to provide a universal movement of the triangles to provide a smooth fold.

By means of the adjustment screw I2! all of the triangles may be adjusted in their relation to the former 51. The former 61 is of a known type which will fold the margins of the strip delivered by the triangle upon a central portion thereof. The narrowest strip illustrated in Figures 17 and 21 is so delivered to the triangle as not to be folded at all but to be merely given a 90 turn, and its relation to the triangle is indicated by dot and dash lines I22 in Figure 25, the sheet I23 there illustrated being the narrowest sheet of Figures 17 and 21.

The adjustment of the triangle to the former for the narrowest sheet I23, the maximum width sheet I24 of Figures 18 and 22, and the intermediate width sheet I25 of Figures 19 and 23 will be the same.

As indicated in Figure 22, in comparison with Figure 21, it will be seen that the widest sheet is twice the width of the narrow and therefore the fold indicated as of sheet I24, Figures 18 and 22, will be exactly the same as that indicated for sheet I23 but will be of two thicknesses resulting in the fold of Figure 18.

When the intermediate width sheet I25 is delivered to the former there will be a wider portion come from the triangle at one side of its apex than from the other side of its apex, as indicated in Figure 23, whereby the edge-to-edge fold of Figure 19 will result wherein the uppermost fold will be a double fold and that shown in the center of the fold will be of a single thickness, the former 61 acting exactly as in producing the fold of Figures 17 and 18.

For the fold of Figure 20, which is a strip I26 wider than strip I23 but narrower than I25, the

relation of the triangle to the former is as shown in dot and dash lines I21, Figure 25, resulting in the edge to center fold of Figure 20.

After passing the plate III or II5 of Figures 27 and 28, supported as shown in Figure 3, the bands pass to the measuring rolls I36 which are preferably faced with a friction material as rubber. The diameter of these rolls is very carefully adjusted to feed the napkins at a determined speed, the napkins being led around the surfaces of the rolls by means of lacing belts I3I passing about rollers I32, I33 driven by the contact of the belts with the napkin bands upon the measuring rolls I30. One of the lacing rolls I32 is preferably made with a convex surface as indicated at I34, Figure 8, and the other thereof with a concave surface as indicated at I35. The width of the lacing belts is preferably less than that of the bands, as indicated by dotted lines I36 in Figure 8.

To adjust the pinch of the lacing belts, the rolls I32, I33, are mounted in eccentric bearings as indicated at I31, Figure 3, and the rolls retained in adjusted position as by set screws I38, I39. The paper passes between the measuring rolls I 36 and the anvil rolls I40 and the pinch between these rolls is adjusted by the mounting of the. shaft upon which the measuring rolls I30 revolve in eccentric bearings, as indicated at I4I, Figure 3.

The anvil rolls I40 are provided with vacuum ducts I42 communicating at appropriate times with a vacuum chamber I43, Figure 4, communicating by means of passages. I45 with the hollow I46 in the shaft I41 in communication with conduits I48, I49, Figure 8, in communication with a suitable air pump.

To avoid destroying or lessening the embossing when embossed napkins are operated upon, the anvil roll and the knife rolls I50 are desirably spaced as indicated in Figure 4 although shown in contact in the smaller sized View of Figure 8.

The knife rolls I50 carry knives I5I adjustably mounted in their periphery, coacting with anvils I52 upon the anvil rolls.

Since the napkins are cut through the plurality of thicknesses of each band by a direct pinch out, there is a very considerable pressure required to cut the napkins. To resist this cutting action the shafts I41 and I54 are mounted in a frame comprising bars I55, I56 and beams I51, said beams being made in two parts as shown in Figure 3 clamped upon the bars I55, I56 by bolts I58. The shafts I41 and I54 do not revolve and the anvil and knife rolls are mounted thereon by means of anti-friction bearings as indicated in Figure 8. The shafts I41 and I54 are desirably made sectional as clearly indicated in Figure 8.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figure 4 that the vacuum of the anvil rolls will take the napkins immediately after passing the measuring rolls and continue to hold them after they are cut and until the cut lengths are delivered.

After a period of use the knife I5I will tend to produce a groove in the anvil to which the severed end of the napkins may adhere and to ensure the stripping of the napkins from these rolls doctors I60 are shown in Figures 3 and 4, the doctors for the several rolls being mounted upon a flexible strip I6I mounted upon the beam members I51.

The anvil, knife, and measuring rolls are driven by a chain I66 from shaft 58 driving a shaft I61 which by sprocket and chain I66 drives shaft I69 which in turn is geared to the anvil. rolls, which. anvil rolls .drive. the. knife:

rolls by means of gears I19,-..I1I, and.also;drive the measuring rollsby gears I12, Figure .3-

. The. severed napkinsleaving. the anvil. rolls pass betweenstrippers 162,. I53 to be delivered totheinterfolding mechanism. The motion. of the napkins .up to this point is steady andcontinuous: butv the motion of .the napkinthrough.

the interfolding mechanism is va step bystep mo.-

tion.. To change themotion of the napkins and.

deliver thesame to the interfolding. mechanism, the; napkins are seized at the end of thestri-p-. pers.I62,:I63. by speed-up rolls I64, 165 which may be. continuousacross the machine. The distance from the point of cutting of the napkins by the knives toithe speedup rolls. I64, I65 is very little. greater than the length of band. out off. to form .the napkins..

.T'ne. structure of the speed up rolls and their. drive is indicated in Figure 13.. As there shown the roll I64; driven by chain.l1 3 fromshaft I56, Figure 3,. drives roll. I651 by means. of. gearing I141and. I15."

napkinsfor an instant. and to immediately release .them, and are moved into and outof fric.

tionalengagement withthe napkins by acam I16? on shaft I61 acting .upon.a;rol1er 'I1B..car riedupon an arm l19iconnected to a stub shaft I89, Figure 14, whichcarries. the. bearing IBI for the shaft of.roll I35':eccentrica1ly, asshown in Figures .13. and 14. Therefore slight revolution.of shaft I89. will move the .roll lfiitoward and. away from roll I64 .a distance less than the. intermesh of gears I14, I15.. The springISZ is.

shown in Figures .13 and 14.110 hold the roller I13 to the cam I16.

The. strippers I52 are as shown in Figure 8 spacedapart, therev being two of thes strippers facingtheoperator, whereas the strippers. I63.

communicating by conduits I95, Figure 8, with' cut-off valves I89 makin a and breaking. communication with the interior of hollow shaft I81 which is shown in communication'with the conduit I49 ofFigure 8.

The valves I86 have a limited motion about the-shaft I81 between stops I88-and'l89 mounted- .upon the frame as shown in Figure 3. Theva-lves are moved by friction between the shoes I99 and the shaft, produced by spring I9I- shown in Figure 8. It will be seen that-in the position of Figure '1 the valve'hasjust been opened by' contact of the valvepwith stop 18,8, and that in the position of Figure the, vacuum has just been,

The speed-up rolls arerevolved soas tov substantially double the speed of the.

cut oiftto releasethe leading end of the napkin.

The sequence of operation follows through'the positions of quadrants. and, tucker blades as.

shown in Figures 2,3, 5, 6,and '7.

The quadrants I83j'iare drivenby arms. I92 driven by eccentrics, I93'mounted upon shaft,f59'.'

The tucker blades-I 94; I95 are continuousacross themachine for all. sixsheets and are carried. by beams I96, I91 mounted upon movable pivots.

I99. carried bythe arms I99, .299,of. be1l. cranks pivotedat 29I, 292 .respectively. Ih'eremainirig. arms ofthe-bell cranks-293, 294- are drivenby cam 295, Figure- 5, mountedupon the shaft 56:

Thebeams I96. andl91carry the rollers 296, 291 travellingin a cam groove208 formed indisk 209ialso mounted uponshaft 56, to produce the vertical movements of the tucker blades.

The principle. of the operation of the tucker blades is precisely the same as that shown in prior patents granted to me, Nos.- 1,572,817, February 9, 1926, and. 1,707,580, April 2, 1929, differingtherefrom in details only, one point of difference being that in the former structure the beams are. urged inwardly by means of springs.

When the quadrants I83 release the trailing ends of the napkins, the said ends are given an impulse downwardly by means of a blast from a conduit 2IIJ as indicated in Figure '7. To hold the trailing ends under slight tension against the subsequent motion of the tucker blade I94, in the position of Figure 2, the said. ends rest upon a comber which is a rapidly revolving shaft 2 driven-by a belt 2I2 from the shaft of speed up roll I64.

As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the angles 234, 235 forming the mouths of the chutes have bars 236, 231 respectively secured to their forward ,5 edges carrying projecting lugs 238 to receive the napkins from the tucker blades. The tucker blades are shown as slotted at 239 to pass said lugs. To prevent lateral misplacement of the napkins during interfolding, the tucker blades are shown as notched at 240, Figure 16.

Withdrawal of tucker blade I94 from the position ofFigure 15 has a tendency to drag out the leading edge of the napkin. To prevent such action bowed spring fingers MI, 242 are shown .i secured at one end of each in recesses 243,. 244

formed in the face of blade I95. These springs produce friction between said leading edge and the trailing edge of the preceding napkin which is greater than the friction of the smooth surface of blade I94 upon the leading edge in contact therewith.

To prevent the napkin from retrograde movement by friction with the quadrant I83 from the position of Figure 5, there is shown a shoe 2I3 carrying bristles 234 appropriately directed to resist said retrograde movement of the napkin. By action of the tucker bars, the interfolded napkins are fed into chutes shown inplan and end viewsin Figures 11 and 12, separated by means of chute bars 214, the ends of which bars approach very closely to the inward movement of the tucker bars.

The napkins at times may become jammed between the ends of the chute bars 2I4 and the tucker bars producing a resistance which might deform the tucker bars. To stop the machine in case of such jamming, the chuteplate 215 is shown in Figures 11 and 12 as mountedat the forward end uponrolls 2E6 and-.atthe rear end upon the upper ends. of the arms 2I1' rigidly mounted upon shaft 2| 3 having a crank arm 219 secured at each end. thereof equipped with a weight 220 to urge the plate toward the forward position. A mercury switch 22I is shown mounted on the shaft 2I8, which .will be actuated by'slight revolution of the shaft 2i 8 upon such rearward movement of the plate, which switch is connected to operate a circuit to stop the machine by meansnot shown.

The napkinsare forced-into the chutes in endless *series and an attendant must remove the napkinsin quantities to make up a package each. In order to mark the napkins at'the point which should separate the packages, a' counter is shown in detail in Figures 29 and 30 and in end view in Figure 3. Said counter comprises a pawl member 222 carried by an arm 223 being mounted in an interchangeable position in a double ended socket 224.

As shown in Figures 29 and 30, the pawl is so mounted in the socket as to coact with a larger ratchet wheel 225 and may bereversed to coact with a smaller ratchet 226, the said ratchets being secured upon a shaft 22'! carrying a disk 228 provided with a pin 22.! which at each revolution of the shaft 22'! will actuate a mercury switch 230 to close a circuit through a solenoid 23L Figure 12, to cause movement of a bar 232 carrying blades 233, Figure 11, one for each chute to slightly scarify the edges of one of the napkins to mark the division between the packages.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: means to support a plurality of parent rolls of strips of paper to be folded; means to fold the respective strips into bands; means individual to each strip to cut the respective hands into lengths to be interiolded; individual means respectively to feed the lengths to interfolding means; common means to interfold the lengths cut from each. band into individual package columns; and common drive means for the individual cuttin and interfolding means. 7

2. The combination of claim 1 with means to so adjust the band folding means as to fold different widths of strips to a common standard width of band.

3. The combination of claim 1 with means to reduce the tension of the bands as delivered to the cutting means.

4. The combination of claim 1 with brakes upon the parent roll supporting means; power driven means to draw said strips from said parent rolls and power driven means to draw the bands from the band folding means; whereby to deliver the running paper from each means to the next with substantially no tension thereon.

5. The combination of claim 1 with a power driven booster roll between each parent roll and the band folding means receiving therefrom; a power driven booster roll between each band folding means and the cutting means receiving therefrom and means to adjust the speed of said booster rolls relative to the speed of said cutting means.

6. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: a revoluble support for a parent roll of paper; means to out said paper into lengths and to interfold said lengths, booster means between said roll support and said cutting means to reduce tension of the paper as delivered to said cutting means.

7.'A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: a revoluble support for a parent roll of strip paper; a brake to control delivery from said roll; means to fold the running strip from said roll into a continuous band; means to cut said band into lengths; means to interfold said lengths; power driven booster means between said roll support and said band folding means; power driven booster means between said band folding means and said cutting means; and means to adjust the speed of the respective boosting means relative to each other and to said cutting means.

8. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: means to longitudinally fold a running strip of paper into a' band; brake means to control the run of said paper to said folding means; means to out said band into lengths and means to interfold said lengths; booster means to supply the paper to said folding means and to said cutting means substantially without tension comprising a pair of parallel shafts, a booster roll mounted upon each of said shafts; means to drive said shafts at a speed uniform with the speed of said cutting means; a sheave fixed to one of said shafts; a sheave fixed to the roll upon the remaining shaft; a belt to drive said roll; a sheave fixed upon said second named shaft; a sheave fixed to the roll upon the first named shaft; and a belt to drive the roll upon the first named shaft from said second named shaft.

9. The combination of claim 8 with means to adjust the effective diameters of said sheaves whereby to individually vary the speed of the respective rolls relative to the speed of the shafts.

10. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: means to fold paper into bands; means to out said bands into lengths; speed-up means to receive said lengths from the cutting means acting to momentarily increase the speed of travel thereof and means to receive the lengths from the speed up means and to interfold the same.

11. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: means to fold a strip of paper into a longitudinally folded band; means to out said hands into lengths; an oscillating member to feed said lengths to interfolding blades; vacuum means to provide a grip of said member upon said lengths; and means to prevent retraction of said lengths during return movement of oscillation of said feed means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said retraction preventing means comprises a plurality of bristles engaging the paper at an acute angle to engage the paper upon attempted retraction thereof.

13. Paper interfolding means comprising oscillating means to advance successive sheets of paper to be interfolded; interfolding plates and blast means to depress the terminal edge of each sheet during the interfolding operation.

14. Paper interfolding means comprising: oscillating means to feed sheets to be interfolded; interfolding plates acting to interfold said sheets and revolving means to be engaged by the trailing edge of each sheet during the action of the plates upon the leading edge thereof to produce a slight tension in a direction away from the interfolding means.

15. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: paper cutting and interfolding mechanism; means to supply continuously running bands of longitudinally folded strips to said mechanism comprising a plurality of backstands; a plurality of parent rolls mounted upon each stand; and paper guiding means for each of said bands; the bands delivered from each backstand being interpolated between the bands from the remaining backstands.

16. A paper folding and interfolding machine comprising, in combination: means to longitudinally fold. a plurality of strips of paper into running bands; means to out said hands into lengths and to interfold said lengths, comprising a plurality of cutting rolls one for each band mounted upon a common shaft; an anvil roll coacting with each-cutting roll, said. anvil rolls .mounte'ctupon a commonshaft parallel to'the first named shaft; and means connectingwsaid-shafts between-said rolls to prevent vspreading thereof :under strain of the cutting operation.

17. .A paperrfolding and 'interfo'lding machine comprising, in combinationrmeans to supply strips of paperto be cut andinterfolded; means vto out said running strips. into-sheets; :means 'to receive said sheets from'said cutting means comprising a pair of speed-up rolls driven atia speed in excess of that of said cutting means; :interfolding 'feed means to receive the sheets. from said speed-'uprollsy meansto'move said speed-up rolls relative ,to each other to andfrom gripping relation 'to'the sheets; said last named means acting to cause said'rolls tofgrip thepaper only momentarily slightly in advance of theaction of said feed means.

18. A paper in-terfolding machine comprising, in combination: means tocut a-plurality of-zstrips of paper into sheets to be'interfolded; means-to interfold said sheets from the respective-= strips acting to deliver the interfolded sheets 'into chutes continuous columns; common means comprising a revoluble member driven in synchronism with said cutting means; I a pawl arm reciprocated by each revolution of 'saidmember;

a plurality of ratchet wheels-'of differing diameters and formed with teethof the-same spacing, rigid on a common shaft; a pawl "carried by said arm shiftable to coact with any chosen ratchet wheel; means actuatedat eachxrevolution of the ratchet'wheel shaft to score -an edge of -anin- 7 terfolded sheet-in eachchute'to indicate a division thereof into packages; wherebyvshifting of the-pawl may cause a variation of indicated size of package.

19. A paper folding -andinterfolding machine comprising, in combination: meansfor holding a parent roll of paper strip to be operated upon;

a triangle to receive from said parent roll; folding means to fold said strip into a band; means to adjust said holding means to take rolls of different width strips; and means to adjust the location of the roll upon the holding means to deliver the same to the triangle to vary the fold produced by the latter.

20. The combination of claim 19 with means to adjust the relation of the triangle to said band folding means to vary the fold produced by the latter.

21. A paper folding and interfolding-machine comprising, in combination: means to support a plurality of groups of parent rolls'of strip paper to be folded; means to fold the respective strips into bands; means to feed the bands'from each group in interpolated relation-with the bands from another group; means individual to each band to cut respective bands into lengthspmeans individual to each band to feed the respective cut lengths to interfolding means; common inter folding means for said lengths; and common drive means for the individual cutting and feeding means.

22. Paper interfolding means comprising interfolding blades reciprocated in their own planes to overlapping position; means to move each blade to the rear of the other upon inward movement thereof; oscillating means to move the leading edge of each length to be acted upon by said blade into the fold to be enclosed by the trailing edge of the preceding sheet; and vacuum means to cause said oscillating means to grip said leading edge. 7

23. The combination of claim 22'vvith means to break the vacuum upon start of retrograde movement of the oscillating means.

GLENN-A. SHAFFER. 

